2nd Apr 2019 https://nfind.uk/brexit_cliff_edge/index.php/newsletter=37 brexit_cliff_edge

Jobs at Risk

Financial Times The City of Londons biggest international banks have moved fewer than 1500 jobs from the UK in the runup to Brexit after slashing their estimates of the staff they need onshore in the EU after Britain leaves the bloc. Financial Times research shows top lenders are preserving as much optionality as possible by moving fewer people from the UK to the 27 other EU countries as they strive to avoid costly actions while grappling with deepening political uncertainty. Londons top 15 international banks have collectively cut fewer than 3500 jobs in the UK capital since the Brexit vote in June 2016 amounting to about 5 per cent of their City headcounts. Fewer than 1500 of those moves were linked to Brexit interviews with senior bank executives have revealed. https://www.ft.com/content/8eeafb6a-5161-11e9-b401-8d9ef1626294 1st Apr 2019

Economic Impact

Financial Times Brexit has cost the UK around 600m every week since the 2016 referendum according to a report by Goldman Sachs that highlights the economic impact of the uncertainty surrounding Britains exit from the EU. The investment bank said that Brexit has cost Britain about 2.4 per cent of gross domestic product compared with a hypothetical Doppelgnger economy that did not withstand a Brexit shock. Its estimates suggest that the UK economy has underperformed other advanced economies since mid2016 as a result. https://www.ft.com/content/fb6285a4-5460-11e9-a3db-1fe89bedc16e 1st Apr 2019

Economic Impact

Daily Mail Sir Marks 14page letter warns a No Deal would result in a 10 per cent spike in food prices and the collapse of some businesses that trade with the EU b The Government would come under pressure to bail out companies on the brink c It would hamper the ability of the police and security services to keep people safe d It would lead to the reintroduction of direct rule in Northern Ireland for the first time since 2007 e A recession will hit the UK and the pounds depreciation will be more harmful than in 2008 f Our legal authorities and judicial system would be put under enormous pressure. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6875015/Top-mandarins-bombshell-No-Deal-Brexit-warning.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ampns_campaign=1490&ampito=1490 2nd Apr 2019

Economic Impact

Reuters Britains chaotic exit from the European Union has cost the economy about 600 million pounds per week since the 2016 referendum Goldman Sachs said on Monday in a report that underscores how Brexit uncertainty has dented investment. The report found that Brexit had cost the worlds fifth largest economy nearly 2.5 percent of GDP at the end of last year compared to its growth path prior to the mid2016 vote on exiting the bloc. It has also lagged other advanced economies. Politicians in the UK are still struggling to deliver on that vote Goldman Sachs economists wrote in a note to clients. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-goldmansachs/brexit-uncertainty-has-cost-britain-600-million-a-week-goldman-sachs-idUKKCN1RD1T8 1st Apr 2019

Economic Impact

The Guardian The UK chief executive of the German manufacturing group Siemens has said Brexit is making Britain an international laughing stock while urging MPs to pursue a softer withdrawal from the EU. Jrgen Maier said Britain was wrecking its reputation for business stability putting investment in the country at risk and threatening the economy. A nodeal Brexit would inflict further damage he said while urging MPs to reach a consensus and back a customs union with the EU. Writing an open letter to MPs published by the Politico website he said The world is watching and where the UK used to be beacon for stability we are now becoming a laughing stock. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/01/brexit-britain-siemens-uk-eu 1st Apr 2019

Economic Impact

The Guardian BMWs Mini plant in Britain closes for four weeks from Monday and Peugeots Vauxhall car factory shuts for two weeks in moves planned months ago to help the firms deal with any disruption resulting from Brexit which has since been delayed. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-autos/bmw-peugeot-go-ahead-with-uk-plant-shutdowns-despite-brexit-delay-idUKKCN1RD2M6 1st Apr 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Sky News A group of protesters have been arrested after stripping off in the House of Commons as MPs debated Brexit. Direct action group Extinction Rebellion said seminaked activists had glued their hands ... https://news.sky.com/story/protesters-strip-naked-in-commons-brexit-debate-11681629 1st Apr 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Sky News Easyjet has warned that unanswered questions surrounding Brexit are weakening demand as it heads into its key summer trading period. Shares in the lowcost airline fell 9 after it said it was now more cautious about its expected financial performance in the key second half of its financial year from now until the end of September. Chief executive Johan Lundgren said the carrier was operationally wellprepared for Britains departure from the European Union but that it was seeing softness in the market in both the UK and Europe. https://news.sky.com/story/easyjet-warns-brexit-uncertainty-is-hitting-sales-11681146 1st Apr 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The New York Times For more than three decades London has attracted global banks trading operations hedge funds asset managers and sovereign wealth funds becoming a global financial center second to none. Brexit has jeopardized that status. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/01/business/british-business-brexit.html 1st Apr 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC UK factories stockpiled goods for Brexit at an unexpectedly high rate last month boosting manufacturing growth to a 13month high according to a closely watched survey. The research by IHS MarkitCIPS found that the rate of increase in stocks hit a survey record high for the third month in a row. The Purchasing Managers Index PMI for the manufacturing sector rose to 55.1 in March from 52.1 in February. A figure above 50 indicates expansion. The PMI has remained above that benchmark for 32 months in a row. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47772782 1st Apr 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC The EU has agreed measures to allow basic connectivity for a year to prevent planes being grounded the day after a nodeal Brexit. UK Aviation Minister Baroness Sugg has confirmed that this will be reciprocated. This doesnt provide the exact same access as before though. It allows for pointtopoint trips from the UK to another EU country and vice versa. But it doesnt cover onward flights to other European countries or flights by EU carriers between two UK cities. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47225806 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Independent It means that on Tuesday the usual 90minute cabinet meeting will be ditched with ministers told to clear their diaries for two meetings lasting five hours in total. The first between 9am and noon will be a political cabinet where top ministers discuss political strategy and party matters without government officials listening in. This will then be followed by the more usual cabinet meeting to discuss government matters such as nodeal Brexit preparations with civil servants taking notes. Downing Street insisted on Monday that the prime minister still believed a general election was not in the national interest despite deputyConservative chairman James Cleverly admitting his party was engaged in sensible and pragmatic planning for a snap poll. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-theresa-may-cabinet-vote-election-single-market-mps-a8849986.html 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Inside the No 10 bunker there has been heated discussion about whether a snap general election fronted by Theresa May remains a possibility. But with the Conservatives plunging below Labour in the polls this weekend and the partys split over Europe looking increasingly irreconcilable there are growing warnings from Tory grandees that even entertaining such a course of action is deeply unwise. It was certainly being tested said one Downing Street adviser. Some people werent exactly arguing in favour but were saying it could be the least worst option. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/01/desperate-mood-in-no-10-as-insiders-considered-snap-election 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Sun Theresa May is today facing a Tory revolt after 170 of her MPs signed a letter begging her not to agree a long Brexit delay. A letter was sent to No10 which was signed by 170 MPs more than half their whole number demanding the UK leaves the EU within the next few months. The letter insists the PM must uphold the Tories manifesto commitments on Brexit meaning there must be no long exit delay and no EU elections fought. In a serious challenge to her authority it was also signed by 10 Cabinet ministers and 20 other members of her Government. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8755181/tory-mps-revolt-demanding-theresa-may-rejects-long-brexit/ 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC A Democratic Unionist Party DUP MP has said the party will not vote for Theresa Mays Brexit deal even if she presents it to the House of Commons a thousand times. The partys Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson said its position was fixed. He accused former prime minister Sir John Major and Justice Secretary David Gauke of scare tactics. They said on Sunday that a nodeal Brexit could jeopardise Northern Irelands place in the UK. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-47767649 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Times Theresa May was warned last night that she faced resignations and a split in the Conservative Party if she agrees to pursue a soft Brexit this week. Ministers including Chris Grayling and Penny Mordaunt have made it clear they would consider resigning if the prime minister bows to the will of the Commons should it vote for a customs union with the EU tonight. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/soft-brexit-will-shatter-tory-party-may-warned-rl6r8g6sv 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-47772592/brexit-no-deal-still-on-table-liz-truss 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian The idea of Brexit based on a customs union is incredibly problematic Liz Truss has said as Theresa May faces increasingly open cabinet splits before a new round of indicative votes which could point the way towards a softer departure. With MPs expected to vote on Monday evening on some of the eight tabled proposals the chief secretary to the Treasury said she vehemently opposed the idea of the government backing a customs union if MPs voted for the option. The justice secretary David Gauke said on Sunday he did not think it would be sustainable to ignore parliaments position if MPs ruled out a nodeal Brexit and opted for a customs union. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/01/brexit-customs-union-bad-for-foreign-policy-and-trade-says-truss 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

Huffington Post UK Today in the Commons our politicians will try again to cobble together a Brexit of some sort. They hope this in extremis approach will get through Parliament when so far our political class has repeatedly failed to agree a plan. Mays deal is as dead as a dodo and political consensus among our rulers about where to go next is yet to emerge. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/brexit-jeremy-corbyn_uk_5ca202a1e4b0474c08d1c60a 2nd Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

STV News MPs are getting ready for the second round of socalled indicative votes on EU withdrawal options with crossparty support for softer versions of Brexit. https://stv.tv/news/politics/1436737-mps-prepare-to-vote-on-brexit-options-for-second-time/ 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

Dutch News.nl Dutch MPs will on Tuesday vote on a motion to make guaranteeing the rights of British nationals in Europe and Dutch nationals in the UK a separate issue in the event of a nodeal Brexit. The motion was drawn up by CDA MP Pieter Omtzigt and D66 parliamentarian Kees Verhoeven and calls on the Dutch government to lobby Brussels to take the section on citiziens rights out of the withdrawal agreement and make it a separate matter. The recommendation was included in the duos last report on the Brexit preparations but generated a negative reaction from the Dutch government Omtzigt told DutchNews.nl. https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2019/04/dutch-mps-call-for-ring-fencing-of-citizens-rights-post-brexit/ 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

Express.co.uk The Prime Minister is backing the Tory grandee after party association members in Beaconsfield Buckinghamshire voted to see their constituencys MP deselected Home Office minister Victoria Atkins said. When asked whether Mrs May would step in and help Mr Grieve retaining his seat Mrs Atkins told Pienaars Politics on BBC 5 Live The Prime Ministers been very clear about this. Dominic has given years and years of service to the parliamentary party to the country and the fact is that his Ukip opponent used a meeting on Friday to bring about this debate. https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1108206/brexit-news-dominic-grieve-theresa-may-no-confidence-vote-beaconsfield-victoria-atkins 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

NBC News Britains Parliament still cant agree on how to move forward on Brexit. Four nonbinding measures that would have outlined a potential way forward on exiting the European Union all failed to gain a majority Monday. The vote came after lawmakers last week rejected a withdrawal agreement proposed by Prime Minister Theresa May for a third time. Two of these votes were the largest and fourth largest losses in parliamentary history. Despite these defeats May is reportedly considering putting her deal up for yet another vote in Parliament this week. https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/brexit-referendum/brexit-parliament-again-set-vote-e-u-divorce-options-n989406 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

RTE.ie Tnaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said Ireland needs to prepare for the worst possible outcome on Brexit. Mr Coveney said the British political system is unpredictable and semichaotic at the moment. He said with a deeply divided parliament Ireland cannot be sure what the outcome of the votes there will be this week. Mr Coveney said a nodeal Brexit has shifted from a remote possibility to a real possibility but said while he personally does not think it will happen we cannot be sure. https://www.rte.ie/news/brexit/2019/0401/1039925-brexit/ 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

RTE.ie The European Union is expected to seek more than 10bn in UK contributions for this year even in the event of a nodeal scenario on 12 April RT News understands. In exchange UK beneficiaries of EU funding would continue to receive grants for the rest of the year. A senior EU source told RT News We hope to have it wrapped up this week. The official said there had been informal signals from the UK Treasury that Britain would be willing to consider paying the remainder of its budget obligations until the end of the year. This is in order that universities local communities and any other beneficiaries would not be frozen out of EU structural regional development and research funding immediately. https://www.rte.ie/news/brexit/2019/0401/1039964-eu-budget-uk/ 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politico.eu The U.K. Office for National Statistics on Friday confirmed investment is in its worst slump since the last recession and we already know 80 percent of businesses say Brexit has damaged investment decisions. Worse the damage this is doing to the countrys hardwon reputation as a serious and stable place to do business is now all too real. The world is watching and where the U.K. used to be beacon for stability we are now becoming a laughing stock. I personally can no longer defend the action of our parliament when reporting to my managing board making it hard to win support for finely balanced investment decisions that in the end have an impact on U.K. jobs innovation and the competitiveness of our activities here. https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-brexit-plan-has-failed-but-a-customs-union-can-unite-mps/ 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian MPs failure to come together increases the chance that hard Brexiters will frame the crisis as an opportunity to get people to vote against their economic interests https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/01/the-guardian-view-on-brexit-votes-put-nation-before-party 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian The votes should be free and unwhipped. The Speaker should plead for it. The whips should grant it. The chief government whip Julian Smith has admitted an unprecedented collapse in discipline but we are where we are. The nation is screaming for unity and resolution employers unions industries big and small opinion polls every nonmaverick lobby in the land. The Westminster bubble must burst. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/01/common-sense-customs-union-theresa-may-cross-party 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

Oxford Mail Wantage MP Ed Vaizey has hinted that he is moving towards supporting a second referendum on Brexit. Asked if he would back another vote the former minister replied Still unconvinced but may end up supporting. Mr Vaizey suggested he was unaware of reports this morning claiming he is one of a number of Tories set to back the KyleWilson amendment which would see an approved Brexit deal put to voters. https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/17540108.ed-vaizey-on-second-referendum-i-may-end-up-supporting-it/ 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC MPs have again failed to agree on proposals for the next steps of Brexit. The Commons voted on four motions for leaving the EU including a customs union and a Norwaystyle arrangement keeping the UK in the single market but none gained a majority. The votes were not legally binding so the government would not have been forced to adopt the proposals. Theresa Mays plan that she negotiated with the EU has been rejected twice by historic margins in Parliament. The withdrawal agreement section of her deal was voted down again by MPs on Friday. Mrs May now has until 12 April to either seek a longer extension from the EU to take a different course or decide to leave the EU without a deal. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47781009?ns_source=twitter&ampns_campaign=bbc_politics&ampns_linkname=news_central&ampns_mchannel=social 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian One government department alone spent 5.5m in a single month on management consultants to help with Brexit policy it has emerged. Labour analysed government data on all spending of 25000 or more by the Cabinet Office in January the last month for which figures have been released and calculated that the amount spent on external consultants for Brexitrelated work was 6m. The Cabinet Office said just over 400000 of this was spent not on consultants but by a media buying company to purchase advertising space for the governments Brexitrelated public information campaign. It said the 5.5m which primarily went to multinational companies including EY PwC and Bain covered necessary extra skills for Brexitrelated tasks such as operational and project management tasks. The monthly cost was expected to increase as the Brexit process accelerated the department said. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/01/cabinet-office-spent-55m-in-a-month-on-brexit-consultants?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

@Telegraph Indicative vote results in the House Customs Union 273 Ayes 276 Noes Common Market 2.0 261 Ayes 282 Noes Second Referendum 280 Ayes 292 Noes Parliamentary Supremacy 191 Ayes 292 Noes https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1112825349358927877 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Telegraph To the delight of ardent Brexiteers French President Emmanuel Macron has recently indicated that extending the UKs European Union membership past 12 April is by no means certain and that nodeal next week is a real possibility. Is this just theatre or could he really mean it There are four key reasons for Macron to make such noises. First many EU leaders and members of the European Parliament are fed up of Brexit and fed up of Britain. If push comes to shove they will probably agree to Britain staying in the EU until December 2020 the end of the current budgetary framework period. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/04/01/right-price-macron-will-change-positionon-extending-article/?hootPostID=aa7104f0069d099e7528a0988efcc495 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Telegraph Brussels is demanding Britain pay up billions of pounds even if the UK crashes out of the bloc in a nodeal Brexit on April 12. The EU wants about 5.3 billion from Britain UK officials said. The figure takes into accounts deductions from the British rebate and funding already paid back to Britain. The money would guarantee that the EU continues to pay out committed funding to British recipients such as farmers and university researchers until the end of 2019. We hope to have it wrapped up this week the Irish broadcaster RTE News quoted a senior EU source as saying on Monday. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/04/01/brussels-demand-no-deal-brexit-bill-worth-billions-pounds/?hootPostID=237800399a4b6e5a3a87dd9d2660a5f8 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Telegraph Britain staying in a customs union after Brexit would be the best thing that could happen to the European Union Guy Verhofstadt said as EU sources warned Brussels would dictate trade policy under such an agreement. The UK could leave the EU by May 22 and avoid a Brexit extension of up to two years and the need to hold European elections if MPs built a crossparty majority behind a customs union Mr Verhofstadt said. A customs union would help solve the vexed issue of the Irish border but it will prevent Britain from pursuing an independent trade policy the European Parliaments Brexit coordinator said https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/04/01/britain-staying-customs-union-best-thing-could-happen-eu-says/?li_source=LI&ampli_medium=li-recommendation-widget 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Telegraph The legal and democratic principles of our constitution now point to one resolution of the EU withdrawal crisis prorogation of Parliament for two or three weeks so that ministers can settle down to exercising their abundant statutory and prerogative powers to prepare for the immediate consequences of a nodeal withdrawal on April 12. On that date the European Treaties will cease to apply to this country the UK will withdraw from the EU by the automatic effect of Article 50.3 as modified by decision of the European Council with the United Kingdoms agreement on March 22. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/04/01/one-option-remains-brexit-prorogue-parliament-allow-us-eu/ 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

Huffington Post Corbyns party will support Common Market 2.0 alongside proposals for a customs union and a second referendum. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour-backs-brexit-plan-which-would-mean-continued-free-movement-of-people_uk_5ca2198de4b0bc0dacabf7f9 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

ITV News MPs have again rejected a series of alternatives to Theresa Mays Brexit deal. A call for a customs union after Brexit was defeated by just three votes a referendum on any deal was rejected by 12 votes the Common Market 2.0 plan lost by 21 votes and cancelling Brexit to prevent a nodeal scenario was defeated by 101. https://www.itv.com/news/2019-04-01/what-happens-in-the-brexit-process-now-that-mps-have-once-again-rejected-the-alternatives-on-offer/ 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

ITV News MPs have rejected all four Brexit alternatives tabled for the second round of the indicative vote process. Moments after the results were announced Conservative former minister Nick Boles quit after he told the Commons he can no longer sit for this party . https://www.itv.com/news/2019-04-01/mps-brexit-indicative-vote-result/ 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC EU leaders used to use the threat of a nodeal Brexit as a negotiating tactic as did the UK. They now believe it to be a very real prospect. That has led to a number of countries notably France questioning the logic of delaying Brexit for much longer. They wonder if the UK will ever unite around a Brexit Way Forward be it a softer Brexit no deal or no Brexit. Would a Brexit extension allowing for a general election or a second referendum really settle the issue they ask Or will the EU and UK end up in a no deal scenario anyway after countless extra months of agonising and costly uncertainty https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47756377 31st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Sun https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8768952/brexit-vote-live-theresa-may-soft-brexit/ 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mail Sir Marks 14page letter warns a No Deal would result in a 10 per cent spike in food prices and the collapse of some businesses that trade with the EU b The Government would come under pressure to bail out companies on the brink c It would hamper the ability of the police and security services to keep people safe d It would lead to the reintroduction of direct rule in Northern Ireland for the first time since 2007 e A recession will hit the UK and the pounds depreciation will be more harmful than in 2008 f Our legal authorities and judicial system would be put under enormous pressure. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6875015/Top-mandarins-bombshell-No-Deal-Brexit-warning.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ampns_campaign=1490&ampito=1490 2nd Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

Politico https://www.politico.eu/article/house-of-commons-rejects-all-brexit-options-again/ 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-47779638/mps-reject-all-brexit-options-again 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror Brexit has been thrown into chaos yet again after MPs rejected every single option in a new round of indicative votes on the way forward. In a bid to break the impasse MPs seized control of the Parliamentary timetable to vote on four different options. These included a customs union a Norway Plus style deal an extension that could prevent No Deal and a second referendum. But all of the options were voted down. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for fresh votes on the same options on Wednesday. He said Its disappointing that no solution has won a majority this evening but I remind the House that the Prime Ministers unacceptable deal has been overwhelmingly rejected three times. The margin of defeat for one of the options tonight was very narrow indeed and the Prime Ministers deal has been rejected by very large majorities on three occasions. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-brexit-mps-vote-against-14221064 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

Bloomberg If the U.K. tumbles out of the bloc without a deal the question that has dogged Brexit talks how to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland becomes an acute crisis. For Ireland the dilemma is this policing the border could endanger the regions peace process. Failing to do so could endanger Irelands access to the single market. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-01/merkel-wants-irish-ready-for-painful-choice-if-brexit-goes-wrong?utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&ampcmpid%3D=socialflow-facebook-brexit&amputm_medium=social&amputm_content=brexit&amputm_source=twitter 2nd Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent For JeanClaude Juncker Mr Europe himself to come down with the disease of Brexit exhaustion while on a trip to Rome is testament to the virulence of the disease With our British friends we have a lot of patience but even patience is running out Juncker said in an interview with Italian public broadcaster RAI. So far we know what the British parliament says no to but we dont know what it might say yes to. The treatment Mr Juncker is happy to write his own prescription for the British to make a decision about their future relationship with the European Union. Once administered Brexit fatigue could clear up remarkably swiftly. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/jean-claude-juncker-brexit-patience-european-commission-parliament-a8849561.html 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Scotsman Johnson and Rees Mogg turncoat architects of Brexit are escaping the wrath of the public but why asks Lesley Riddoch Britain is approaching the perfect political storm this week and every new course to avoid a hard Brexit looks hazardous for a captain ... https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/lesley-riddoch-why-are-bungling-brexit-elites-escaping-public-wrath-1-4899083 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

Yahoo! Conservative lawmaker Nick Boles said on Monday he was resigning from Prime Minister Theresa Mays governing party after his attempt to seek an alternative route forward to break the deadlock in parliament over Brexit was rejected. The proposal Boles put forward for a socalled Common Market 2.0 or enhanced Norwaystyle deal which would include membership of the EUs single market as well as a customs arrangement with the EU lost by 282 votes to 261. I have given everything to an attempt to find a compromise that can take this country out of the European Union while maintaining our economic strength and our political cohesion I accept I have failed Boles told parliament. I have failed chiefly because my party refuses to compromise I regret therefore to announce that I can no longer sit for this party. Boles later said on Twitter he would sit as an Independent Progressive Conservative. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/boles-quits-conservative-party-over-brexit-212429055.html 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

Financial Times MacDonalds choice offers Tories a clue to what is coming if they do not back her deal a shattered party or an early election. Mrs May is planning yet another push incorporating a backbench Labour plan for more parliamentary control over the next stage. With Labour backing every soft Brexit option only the most obtuse Tory hardliners can believe there is a better option on offer. Too bad it is the most obtuse hardliners she now needs to convince. https://www.ft.com/content/cddda1b4-5455-11e9-91f9-b6515a54c5b1 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian The Brexit protester who disrupted services on the Eurostar last week by standing on top of St Pancras station in London has admitted a charge at Westminster magistrates court of causing a public nuisance. Terry Maher 44 from Camden north London climbed on to the roof of the station at 7pm on Friday and remained there until 8am on Saturday. He waved a St Georges flag and told arresting officers he was angry at politicians for fucking up Brexit. Mahers actions took place on the day the UK was supposed to leave the European Union and caused the cancellation of eight Eurostar services and major delays for thousands of passengers. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/apr/01/eurostar-services-brexit-disrupter-admits-public-nuisance-offence 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6872993/Brexit-sh-German-minister-hits-chaos-Westminster.html 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-47779638/mps-reject-all-brexit-options-again 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent The clueless silver spoon elite that dominates British politics is to blame for the current Brexit crisis in the UK Germanys Europe minister has said. Speaking in Berlin Michael Roth said 90 per cent of Britains cabinet ministers have no idea how workers think live work and behave and that their ignorance had led to a big stshow. Brexit is a big stshow I say that now very undiplomatically Mr Roth said at a gathering of his Social Democratic Party over the weekend. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/brexit-news-germany-michael-roth-rees-mogg-boris-johnson-a8849271.html 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC Conservative British MP Jacob ReesMogg has defended his tweet of a speech made by the coleader of the farright Alternative for Germany AfD party. The prominent Brexit supporter posted the footage of Alice Weidel speaking in Germanys parliament. In it she questioned the European Unions EU Brexit negotiating strategy and called for EU reform. AfD was formed in 2013 and is Germanys main opposition party campaigning for tougher immigration laws. The party has provoked outrage in Germany for incendiary remarks from its members on race religion and Nazi Germany. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47770959 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian In the classic sense of a very modern word we are being trolled. Yet the outward mood of many people opposed to Brexit remains subdued weary and fatalistic. As austerity grinds on and the social fabric carries on fraying the impossibility of leaving the EU without truly dire economic and social damage is selfevident. Boris Johnson Michael Gove and no really Dominic Raab are jostling to get the keys to 10 Downing Street. Our system of government has creaked to a halt the official opposition is divided confused and often mute. Anger might seem like the most apposite response but what we have mostly seen is a strange passivity. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/01/petitions-jokes-halt-brexit-calamity-brexit-english 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph Police have arrested 12 people on suspicion of outraging public decency after climate change activists stripped off to stage a protest in the House of Commons while MPs debated Brexit. A group of largelynaked Extinction Rebellion protesters with messages painted on their bodies stood up in the public gallery overlooking the debate on Monday night. Some were pressed against the glass which separates the gallery from the chamber with police who were sent to the scene to negotiate saying one had superglued themselves to the window. MPs were seen taking a glance up at the protest and Speaker John Bercow maintained that the debate on the second stage of the Brexit alternatives would proceed despite the protest. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/04/01/climate-protesters-flash-mps-brexit-debate/ 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent The Independent Group of MPs TIG will be supporting any measures that provide for a peoples vote with Remain on the ballot and if that not possible for the revocation of Article 50 if thats what it takes to stop a nodeal Brexit we certainly will not facilitate Brexit like the main parties. But whatever gets through Im not sure wed be able to pass all the necessary legislation even by 22 May at this rate the latest date pencilled in by the European Council for our departure. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-indicative-votes-customs-unions-erg-referendum-tig-a8848911.html 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The New European Steve Baker says his conscience is free of any blemish despite sending an email advising Vote Leave could spend as much as it needed. https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/steve-baker-on-bbc-politics-live-1-5970810 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

Politics.co.uk It was like the final scene of Reservoir Dogs. Each of the Brexit political tribes held a gun up to the other and shouted at them preventing any one idea from securing a majority. They killed everything a customs union the single market a Peoples Vote and even the ability to keep nodeal off the table. There were four motions put forward in the indicative vote debate tonight the latest event at which MPs wrestle control of the parliamentary timetable from the government and try to find an alternative to Theresa Mays stale plan. If any one of them could secure a majority it could act as a battering ram forcing the prime minister to give ground. http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2019/04/01/circular-firing-squad-puritanism-sees-remainers-and-soft-bre 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian For a second vote to stand a chance it needs the socialist Labour leadership behind it making it about transformational politics in Britain rather than a default to a broken economic policy that is breaking people. But regardless of support for another referendum with the far right permeating our political air supply the Corbyn left must throw its intellectual moral campaigning and policymaking weight behind fullthroated antiracism and support for immigration. This is so long overdue its starting to feel as if the left really has conceded defeat. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/01/jeremy-corbyn-labour-peoples-vote-fight-far-right 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC The government should have made clear after the 2017 election that it would inevitably have to accept a closer relationship with the EU after Brexit the Conservative chief whip has said. In a BBC documentary Julian Smith who manages party discipline is also critical of the cabinets behaviour. The attack comes as the cabinet is split over whether to move to a softer deal that could mean a customs union. No 10 said the prime minister had never used the term soft Brexit. Several cabinet ministers have said agreeing to a customs union would break promises the Conservatives made at the 2017 election while exminister Steve Baker said doing so would shatter the party. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47768884 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Spectator The Brexiteers have trampled down the border between the centre right and far right. In Conservative politics now we have complete freedom of movement https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2019/04/brexit-has-destroyed-the-barriers-between-the-centre-and-far-right/ 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian The mood in Brussels is pessimistic. Most of those closely involved in the Brexit talks think the likeliest outcome is for the UK to leave without a deal. There is also tremendous frustration with what EU officials see as the incompetence ignorance and irresponsibility of swaths of the British political class. Over the past three years much of the goodwill that people held towards the UK has evaporated. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/01/remainers-europe-excise-british-cancer 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

Byline Times As the Article 50 fuse she so imprudently lit fizzes to its end she has come to realise that the one shot she has at posterity is to get her wretched deal through and fulfil the meaningless undertaking that Brexit meant Brexit. That empty epithet will now be her political epitaph. In some quarters May has gained sympathy for having to handle this thankless political task but it is entirely unwarranted. David Cameron stupidly and illadvisedly caused the mess but May has had opportunity after opportunity to put a halt to it. Instead of being straight with the public she has appeased the whims of the Europhobic lunatics and let the country got to the dogs. https://bylinetimes.com/2019/04/01/theresa-mays-legacy-of-chaos/ 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

BuzzFeed News After MPs rejected all the alternative proposals for the second time in a week a leading Conservative MP announced he was quitting the party because it refuses to compromise. Parliament has again failed to agree on an alternative to Theresa Mays Brexit plan leaving Westminster hopelessly divided with less than two weeks to go before the UK is due to leave the European Union. On Monday night for the second time in a week MPs took control of parliamentary business in an attempt to resolve the gridlock by voting on possible Brexit outcomes but none of the four proposals received the backing of a majority of the House. https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexspence/pariament-has-again-failed-to-agree-on-any-alternatives-to?utm_source=dynamic&amputm_campaign=bfsharetwitter 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The National The clock is ticking down to Brexit and it can feel like the people in power have no idea about the reality of the situation. Well in the case of the Tories that seems to actually be the case. One of the central points of this Brexit process has been membership of the customs union. It has been crucial to discussions all along. Some are in support of being in it some do not think that should be the case. Today the Tory MPs FINALLY had their training session on what a customs union is. https://www.thenational.scot/news/17543150.the-conservatives-have-only-just-learned-what-a-customs-union-is/?ref=twtrec 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

@ExtinctionR BREAKING Extinction Rebellion activists strip off in House of Commons public gallery to call attention to the elephant in the room Climate and Ecological Crisis ExtinctionRebellion TellTheTruth @HouseofCommons https://twitter.com/ExtinctionR/status/1112756367348154368 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

Open Democracy The UKs election watchdog doesnt think its worth finding out if the Brexit campaign broke the law more than once. MPs have called on the regulator to look again. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-investigations/not-in-the-public-interest-why-the-electoral-commission-didnt-investigate-vote-leave-and-dup-donation/ 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

Politics Home Tory MP Jacob ReesMogg has come under fire for sharing a speech from a controversial farright German party known for its antiimmigration and antiMuslim rhetoric. The leading Eurosceptic shared a video of the Alternative for Germany leader Alice Weidel hitting out at Brussels handling of Brexit. Posted from his Twitter account the chairman of the European Research Group said The AfD leader asks Is it any wonder the British see bad faith behind every manoeuvre from Brussels https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/news/102944/jacob-rees-mogg-under-attack-sharing-video 1st Apr 2019